Automobile-bumper



R. T. NEWTON* AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.22, 1917.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Inventor: /CHHQ 7'. NewTo/v JM mi 1.7 ot the chassis frame.

UNITED STATES RICHARD T. NEWTON, OF 'NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMOBILE-BUMPER.

Application filed January 22, 1917.

To @ZZ ywhom. t may conce/'71.:

Be it known that I, RICHARD T. NEWTON, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and lmprovcd Automobile-Bumper, ot' which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to automobile bumpers and particularly to bumpers of the flat spring type, the object of my invention being to ,provide an improved construction in this type of bumper which possesses the advantage of adjustability to different widths of chassis. ready attachability, economy of construction, and increased etticiency l and strength.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure l is a plan partially in section of a bumper in which my invention is embodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a front ele ation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation indicating the manner ot' attachment to thc side frame ot' the chassis;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4. Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional plan of a modified construction of the springs;

Fig. 6 is a similar view ot' a further modification;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a further modification ot' the attaching end ot' the springs; and

Fig. 8 is a section on the lline 8 8. Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings. the bumper in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises two pairs ot' flat springs 10, 11 and l2, 13, arranged on edge. one behind the other in the same substantially horizontal plane and secured at the inner ends in any suitable t'ashion to the sifle bars 14 and The outer ends of thel springs are gripped between a pair of clamping plates 16 and 17 united by a clamping bolt 18.

In order to hold the springs securely between the clamping plates I form studs 19 on the latter which take into corresponding aperturesor recesses 2() in the ends of the springs. By providing a series of apertures in the outer spring ends. it is possible to vary the spacing-ot the springs 10--12 from the springs 11-13 to accommodate the bumper to various widths of chassis.

The springs 10 and 11 extend on a gradual broad curve Q1 from the opposite ends ot the mid clamp 16-17 to the side bars Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Serial No. 143,815.

11-15 of the chassis and are provided at their extremities with a straight reach adapted to lie against the vertical face ot' the chassis side channels 1st-15. The springs 12 and 13 lie outside the springs 10 and 11 and form the impact member of the bumper. They extend laterally in opposite directions from the mid clamp in a Very gradual curve to points sufficiently far beyond the chassis to protect the wheels (indicated in dotted lines) and at this point 22 are sharply recurved into supporting arms 23, the extremities of which are straight and register with the like portions of springs 10 and 11. It is obvious from the shape of springs 10 and 11 that these alord agreater resistance to flexion than the impact springs 12-13 and they strongly reinforce the latter and take the heavier stresses incident to shock. To this end they may be made of heavier stock than theimpact springs. or if it is desired to more nearly equalize the strength of all the springs. the impact springs 12-*13 may be made of the heavier stock.

The bumper is secured to the chassis side bars in any convenient fashion. I have shown the spring ends clamped in position by means of upper and lower hooks 21 and 25, which span the upper and lower flanges 26-27 ot' the channel and engage the inner edges thereof, while clamping screws 28-29 lpass through offset flanges S30-31 at their outer ends into engagement with the springs. A very secure anchorage is thus attained.

It will be noted that in the construction described the bumper presents a symmetrical structure on opposite sides of the midclamp or connector 16-17. It embraces, in other words, two attaching members ot spring steel. or other resilient strip, which are ot duplex character. These attaching members comprise a plurality of strips extending trom the spring bends 21 and 23 and engaged by a Supporting clamp 24, or by bolts 39. 40 (Fig. 8) passing through holes therein` and by which they are attached to the chassis. The curved yielding portion 21 ot' the inner strip of one attaching member merges into the connector portion thereof engaged by the mid-clamp or connector 1(` -1T; while the. other strip has a cooperating connector portion extending outwardly as the end ot the impact-receiving portion of the bumper. an end loop 22 and curved yielding portion S23. The cooperating connector portions of each of these resilient elements may have their ends substantially in line, and may be adjusted or otherwise connected to a front connector lf3-17, the studs 19 of which have at least considerable vertical alining action on the coperating connector portions of the resilient strip elements. The bolt 18 connects each of these strip elements to the front connector 16-1T, while the apertures Q0 in the ends of the strip elements, permit these elements to be adjustably spaced apart.

In the modification Fig. I have shown the inner springs 1() and 11 combined into a single integral spring 3Q. Inasmuch as the spring 32 is integral throughout. the clamping plate 16 may be dispensed with and only the plate 17 utilized. I have here shown it tapped to receive the screw bolt 33 lwhich passes through a hole in the spring 32.

In F ig. (3 I have shown both the inner spring 32 and the impact spring 34. integral throughout. The two springs are held by the mid clamp to prevent rattling and to so combine their efforts as to distribute the strain on shock to the bumper.

In Figs. T and 8 a modified form of attachment to the chassis is indicated. The inner ends of the springs 35 and 36 are turned down to form vertical arms 3T and 38 through which pass the hook bolts 39 and 4l). Either one or both of the verticalarms 3T or '3S may be offset at its lower end to form a flange -1-1 lying beneath the lower fiange of the chassis side channel and pierced to receive heavy set screws 42 which lie on opposite sides of the axis of the bolts 39 4() and bear against the vvlower channel fiange 2T. These screws 12 not only draw the bumper arms down rigidly against the upper clamping bolt 39 but also afford means for the horizontal alinement of the bumper since the hole through which the lower bolt 4() passes is given the form of a slot so that the bumper may be rocked on the upper bolt 39 by adjustment of the set screws 4:2 to, different positions. If the bumper is attached to the downwardly curved portion of the chassis side bar, this feature of construction becomes a necessity in order to secure the proper alinement of the bumper.

I wish to lay special stress on the fact that the impact and reinforcing spring bars form independent integers, except so far as they co-act in meeting strains imposed upon the bumper. This co-action is the result of their juxtaposition at the mid portion of the Impact bar and their independent attachnient to the chassis frame without `intermediate union between the spring elements. The mid clamp of the bumper serves to unite the bars in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, but it is merely a preferred nonessential, (to prevent rattling), when one or both of the bars are integral from end to end of the bumper. as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This co-acting independence of the spring bars results in a much stronger construction than has hitherto been attained in this general type of bumper, since each spring bar is carried back in its full strength to its point of support. Each bar thus takes its own entire weight and the strains placed thereon. For an equal weight ot' spring, twice the strength lis secured over a coustruction in which the entire weight ol' the bumper is carried by the extended attaching arm of the impact spring, as in certain previous constructions. Another great advantage of the present construction is found in the fact, that the weight of the bumper is hung close to its point of support, whereas in other constructions of the same general type, the weight and strength are at the outer or forward portion of the bumper, with consequent relatively heavy strains on the inner point of support, particularly as this latter construction causes excessive vibration during road travel, and this tends to break the bumper at its point of support on the chassis, due to crystallization in the bars, and also to loosen the supporting brackets, by which the bumper is secured to the chassis. Engaging the impact spring at its weakest point, viz., its mid area, the reinforcing spring of this present construction supports the impact bar with a greater strength than that possessed by the impact bar itself,owing to the different curvatureslof the two bars and their independent extension through to the chassis. Actual tests have proven the present lighter construction twice as strong as the best bumpers of like general type, even when the latter are of heavier construction.

The present construction is equally effective against strains on the` bumper due. not to impact, but to forward angular strains, such as are caused when one end of the bumper is hooked by a passing car or by a pole or tree when the car is backed. IVhile in most bumpers a strain of this sort causes breakage, the present bumper is suiiiciently flexible` and, at the` same time,strong enough to permit movement of the car and still not injure the bumper.

Various modifications ot general contour of the springs, and of the construction of the mid clamp, as well as of the means for securing the bumper to the chassis will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from what I claim as my invention.

1. An automobile bumper comprising a flat spring having an impact portionextending in substantially horizontal position transversely of the car and beyond the side of the chassis, when mounted, and a portion recurved from the outer end of said impact portion toward the chassisin combination with a reinforcing fiat spring lying in substantialliy the same horizontal plane but of less transverse extent and having its outer end extending on a more gradual and a stronger curve toward the chassis7 together With means uniting said springs toward the \mid portion of the bumper to secure their co-action, and vmeans engaging'the'chassis ends of said impact and reinforcing springs to secure the same to the chassis.

2. An automobile bumper comprising a flat spring having an impact portion extending in substantially' horizontal position transversely of the car, when mounted, to a point in front of-a side wheel and a portion recurved from the outer end of said impact portion toward the chassis of the car, in combination with a reinforcing flat spring lying in substantially the same horizontal plane but of a transverse Width limited substantially by the Width of the chassis and extending toward the latter on a more gradual and stronger curve, together with means for uniting said springs toward t-he mid-portion of the bumper to .secure their co-action, and means engaging the chassis ends of said impact and reinforcing springs to secure the same to the chassis.

3. An automobile bumper comprising a fiat spring having anl impact portion extending in substantially horizontal position transversely of the Vcar when mounted and a portion vrecurved toward the chassis from the end of said impact portion. in combinationivith a reinforcing fiat spring of greater resistance to yflexion lying in substantially the same horizontaliplane and having its outer end curved toward the chassis, together with means for uniting said springs toward the mid-portion ofthe bumper to secure their co-action, and means engaging the chassis ends of said impact and reinforcing elements to secure the same to the chassis.

4. An automobile fender comprising a front part of flat metal extending across the vehicle in advance thereof, supports for the ends of said part comprising strips of resilient flat metal extending from the ends of the front part to the adjacent ends of the vehicle iframe, said strips being 'bowed with their convex faces toward the front, and a middle support for said front part extending from the middle of the front part to the said ends of the vehicle frame, said middle support being formed of resilient fiat metal curved to bow-form substantially throughout the length of the support with the convex side of the bow faced 'toward the front end avvay from the center of the vehicle whereby the support forms an arch with its crown attached to the front part of the fender.

5, An automobile bumper comprising an impact structure extending acrossrthe vehicle front beyond the opposite chassis side bars, and at each end of said structure aspring supporting arm extending on a curve toward the chassis and a reinforcing spring arm support-ing the mid-area of the impact member and extending from the latter toward the chassis, the attaching ends of said .impact and reinforcing arms extending substantially parallel to each other and forming together a pair of attaching' legs through which the strains on the bumper are transmitted to the chassis.

6. In a construction such as specified in claim 5, means for securing together said impact member and reinforcing member toward the mid-area of the bumper.

7. An automobile bumper comprising an impact member of spring strap material, having supporting arms extending on a curve from the ends of the impact member to the chassis7 and a reinforcing spring arch lying' between the impact member and. the chassis andserving to support the mid-area of the impact member. the attaching legs of the spring arch being rigidly supported with respect to the chassis to transmit directly thereto the strains imposed on said spring arch.

S. An automobile bumper comprising an impact member of spring strap material, havingsupporting arms extending on a curve from the ends of the impact member to the chassis. and a reinforcing spring arch lying between the impact member and the chassis and serving to support the mid-area of the impact member. the attaching ends of said supporting arms and spring arch lying substantially in parallel, together with means for securing the attaching ends of said supporting arms at opposite sides of the bumper respectively to a common support at opposite sides of the chassis.

9. An automobile bumper comprising au impact member of spring vstrap material. having supporting arms extending on a curve from the ends of the impact member to the chassis, and a reinforcing spring arch lying between the impact member and the chassis and serving to support the mid-area of the impact member; the attaching ends of said impact member and supporting arch lying substantially parallel to each other. and to the opposite chassis side bars` together with means common to the attaching ends for opposite sides of the bumper for securing the same respectively to the opposite chassis side bars.

l). An automobile bumper having an impact member extending completely across the vehicle end, a pairof end suppprti'ng arms of spring metal.r a pair of sp-ring'metal arms for supportiilig the mid-area of the` bumper` the attaching ends of said end and mid-area supporting spring arms for oppocam;

site sides of the bumper respectively approaching each other. and being carried toward the chassis substantially parallel, togetherl with means for securing the supporting arms at each side of the bumper respectively, to a common support.

11. An automobile bumper having an impact |member extending completely .across the vehicle end, a pair of end supporting arms of spring metal, a pair ot spring metal arms for supporting the mid-area of the bumper, the attaching ends of said arms-approaching each other and being carried toward the chassis substantially parallel at opposite sides of the bumper respectively, together with means for securing the supporting arms at each side ot the bumper respectively to a chassis side bar.

l2. An automobile bumper having an impact member extending completely across the end of the vehicle chassis, spring supporting arms for the opposite ends thereot` and an independent spring support for the mid-area of the bumper comprising arms extending from the mid-area ot' the bumper in opposite directions toward the bumper end support arms` and means tor engaging the end and mid-supporting arms at each end of the bumper respectively to a common support.

13. An automobile bumper comprising an impact member extending completely7 across the end of the vehicle chassis, spring end supports therefor, reinforcing spring means arranged between the mid-area of the impact member and the chassis, the chassis ends of the spring end and mid-reinforcing arms being carried inwardly and independently toward the chassis, and means engaging the said supporting arms at opposite ends of the bumper respectively, to secure the same to a common support at each side of the chassis.

1i. An automobile bumper comprising a transverse impact member of spring flat metal recurved at its opposite ends to form spring supporting arms, and means for attaching said arms to a rigid support, in combination with auxiliary spring tiat metal supports extending from said point ot' attachment toward the mid-area of the impact member ot' the bumper to reinforce the latter.

15. In an automobile bumper, a transverse impact member, spring supporting arms extending from opposite ends thereof, and a yielding arch-like support for the mid-area of the bumper, the attaching legs of said arch-like support being carried respectively to a point ot support rigid with the chassis and serving totransmit thereto directly the strains imposed upon said archlike member. Y

16. The resilient automobile butter comprising two substantially similar springbutter front and having an inwardly extending connector portion coperating with the adjacent connector portion of the element, and a front connector cooperating with the connector portions otsaid elements and clamping connector devices to connect the said front connector with the connector portions ot said elements.

1T. The resilient automobile buffer comprising two substantially similar springstrip end-loop attaching elements, each having duplex attaching portions adapted to be secured to an automobile frame member and having a connector portion and end loop adapted to form a resilient end of the butl'er front. and a front connector coperating with the connector portions ot' said elements and clamping connector devices to connect the said front connector with the connector portions of said elements.

18. The resilient automobile buffer comprising two substantially similar resilient strip end-loop attaching elements, each having duplex attaching portions adapted to be secured to an automobile frame. member and having a connector portion, adjacent impact `receiving portion and end loop adapted to Jr'orm a resilient buffer end and having an inwardly" extending connector portion, cooperating with the adjacent connector portion otl the element, and a` front connect-or cooperating with, and substantially alining the connector portions of said element-s and clamping connector devices to connect the said front connector with -the com'iector portions of said elements.

19. The resilient automobile butter comprising two resilient strip end-loop attaching elements, each l'iaying attaching portions adapted to be secured to an automobile frame member and having a connector portion, adjacent impact receiving portion and end-loop adapted totorm a resilient butter end and having an inwardly extending connector portion cooperating with the adjacent connector portion of the element, and a front connector cooperating with the connector portions of said elements-and connector devices to connect said front connector with the connector portions of said elements.

20. The resilient automobile buffer comprising two resilient strip end-loop attaching elements, each having attaching'portions adapted to be secured to an automobile frame member and having a connector portion and end-loop adapted to form a resilient buffer end, and a. front connector coperating with the connector portions of said elements and connector devices to connect the said front connector with the connector portions of said elements. y

21. A bumper for motor vehicles comprising a horizontally disposed member arranged transversely of the vehicle, arms connecting said member to the vehicle chas-l sis, the outer portion of said arms curved outwardly away from each other, and a suping a horizontally disposed member, the end portions whereot1 are bent inwardly and rearwardly td provide chassis supported arms, a supplementary member connected to the before-mentioned structure, and means independent of the arms of said first-mentioned member for securing said supplementary member to the vehicle.

Q3. A bumper for motor vehicles comprising a shock-receiving piece, supporting arms extended therefrom to the vehicle, a supplementary flexible member, means connecting the ends of said supplementary member to the before-mentioned structure, and devices independent of the supporting arms of the shock-receiving piece for connecting the supplementary member t0 the vehicle.

24. A bumper for motor vehicles comprising a horizontally disposed member, the end port-ions whereof are bent inwardly' and rearwardly to provide arms for securing said member to the vehicle, a supplementary member connected to the before-mentioned structure, and means independent of the arms of the first-mentioned member for securing said supplementary member cen trally of the vehicle.:

25. A bumper for motor vehicles comprising a horizontally disposed member, the end portions whereof are bent inwardly and rearwardly to provide substantially parallel supporting arms, means for securing the ends of said arms to the vehicle, a supplementary member oppositely disposed with respect to: said first-mentioned member, andI connected thereto, and means independent of the arms of said first-mentioned member for securing said supplementary 'member centrally of the vehicle.

26. ln a bumper for motor vehicles, a. shock-receiving plece, members extended rearwardly therefrom and secured to the ve- `inicle, in combination with a supplementary supporting structure consisting of a horizontally yieldable metal strap suitably connected to the aforesaid structure,y and means, independent of said shock-receiving piece and its rearwardlyv extending members aforesaid', for connecting said su pleinen-l tary supporting structure to the ve icle.

27. ln a bumper for motor vehicles, a

shock-receiving piece, members extended rearwardly therefrom and secured to the vehicle, in combination with a supplementary supporting and shock-receiving structure connected to said first-mentioned shock-re ceiving piece, and means independent of the first-mentioned shock-receiving piece and its rearwardly extending members, for connecting said supplementary supporting structure tothe vehicle.

28. A bumper for motor vehicles comprising a piece of strap metal bent to provide a shock-receiving piece, arms extended rearwardly from said shock-receiving piece and secured to the vehicle, and a secondary piece of strap metal connected to the first-mentionedI piece and supporting the same Jfrom the chassis,

29. In a bumper for automobiles, an impact-receiving structure extending transversely .of the vehicle beyond the opposite chassis side bars, springsupporting arms ex tending from the opposite end regions of said impact structure toward the chassis for support, said supporting arms having portions bowed with their convex portions faced toward the impact-receiving structure, in combination with a supplementary spring support for said impact structure, said supplementary support having a materially less transverse extent and being arranged between the impact structure and the chassis, said supplementary support comprising spring arms extending toward the chassis for support and extending from the mid-area of the impact-receiving structure in opposite directions on spring curves with convex portions faced toward the impact structure.`

30. In a bumper for automobiles, an impact-receiving structure extending transversely of the vehicle beyond the opposite chassis side bars, spring supporting arms extending from the opposite end regions of said impact structure toward the chassis for support, said supporting arms having portions bowed with their convex portions faced toward the impact-receiving structure, in combination with av supplementary spring support for said impact structure, said supplementary support having a materially less transverse extent and being arranged between theA impact structure and the chassis` said supplementary: support comprising spring arms extending toward the chassis for 4-su'p'p'ol-'t.and extending from the mid-area of the impact-receiving structure in opposite vdirections on'spring curves with convex portionsfaced toward the impact structure, to-

gether with means for uniting the impact Ward the vehicle for support, in combination with a supplementary supporting structure for said impact structure, said supporting structure comprising spring arms extending in opposite directions on spring curves from the mid-area of the impact structure and aivay from the latter7 but toward the endsupporting arms therefor and toward the ve hicle for support.

32. ,A vehicle bumper comprising an impact structure extending transversely across the vehicle end, spring supporting arms eX- tending from opposite end portions of the impact struc-ture toward each other and to- Ward the vehicle for support, in combination with a supplementary supporting structure forsaid impact struct-ure, said supporting structure comprising spring arms adjustably connected to and extending in opposite direc* tions on spring curves from the mid-area of the impact Structure and away from the latter, but toward the end-supporting arms therefor and toward the vehicle for support.

33. A vehicle bumper comprising an impact member, spring arms for supporting opposite ends thereof, and a secondary support for said impact member comprising spring arms affording an arch-like support self-sustained from the chassis.

34. A vehicle bumper comprising an impact structure, spring strip end supporting arms therefor, and secondary spring strip supporting arms of different thickness of metal.

35. A vehicle bumper comprising an impact structure, spring and supporting arms therefor` spring mid-supporting arms therefor, means common to the end and mid-supporting arms at opposite sides of the bumper respectively for securing the same to the vehicle and associated means for vertically adjusting the impact structure ofthebumper.

36. A vehicle bumper comprising an impact member, coperating pairs of end and mid-supporting arms therefor, and means for supporting each of said pairs respectively at the outer sides of the opposite side bars of the chassis.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RICHARD T. NEWTON. 

